320 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



musicians. '' No school," says Dr. Stanley, " can 

 be more diligently attended by its master, and 

 no scholars more effectually trained to their own 

 calling, than a seminary of bullfinches. As a 

 general rule, they are formed into classes of about 

 six each, and kept in a dark room, when food and 

 music are administered at the same time ; so that 

 when the meal is ended, if the birds feel disposed 

 to tune up, they are naturally inclined to copy the 

 sounds which are so familiar to them. As soon as 

 they begin to imitate a few notes, the light is ad- 

 mitted into the room, which still further exhila- 

 rates their spirits, and inclines them to sing." In 

 some of these schools the birds are not allowed 

 either light or food till they begin to sing. After 

 being thus taught in classes, each bullfinch is made 

 the sole charge of a boy, who plays his organ from 

 morning till night, while the superintendent of 

 the bird school goes his rounds, regularly, to 

 watch the progress of teacher and pupils. It seems 

 singular to those unused to birds, to find that the 

 bullfinches fully understand the scoldings or praises 

 which they receive from this class-master, and 

 which are distributed according to their deserts. 

 This training process is continued for nine months, 



